To think the school will psychologically damage the children by normalising ‘being watched’

[Monkeypuzzletreat]

My 5 yr old dd proudly came home with a certificate for speaking Welsh today, which is lovely as she’s been working so hard at it. I asked her who was it that heard her to give her the cert? She said “well, there are microphones everywhere and Mr *** (the head teacher) is always listening”
I’ve already spoken to the teacher as they told the class that the head teacher is watching them all the time via cctv and so “they better behave”. Several kids (including mine didn’t want to go in after that for a while).
AIBU to be horrified by this kind of lazy (not to mention damaging) way of discipline?
Also, bloody hell, they’ve spent half their lives in a pandemic- surely this will just add to their anxiety/ paranoia?? They’re only 5!
Or am I overreacting?
Also, can anyone point me in the direction on any research/ articles on the psychology of this at all? I mean, surely this is normalising constantly being watched and conditioning a generation to accept it.

He doesn't, because it's not true! It's clearly just something the teacher has said

I misunderstood. Who did listen to the Ops child speaking Welsh then?

That's awful, what a horrible school.

Have you an alternative? I wouldn't feel happy with that.

@Porcupineintherough

I seem to remember being told that God sees everything that you do. How do Christians cope?

"Catholic Guilt".

My DCs went to a school where they were told they were being watched on CCTV all the time. There were lots of other issues (mostly related to the school head having no clue how to manage discipline) so we moved them. New school much better!

@Scarydinosaurs

I think that’s awful. And if you need kids to feel watched to behave rather than doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do - well, you’re losing.

You’re encouraging misbehaviour to happen in more hidden (and consequently more dangerous) places.

You have hit the nail on the head there. Absolutely. I also think it encourages a sense of if they don't see/ hear it, then I can get away with it and that's ok, but that may be a jump.

It doesn't encourage children to own their own behaviour. It's a if you get caught mentality. But then I guess that's the point of a lot of religions. So maybe a lot of people are happy to externalise morality like that.

Great that your child is doing so well with Welsh. I'm trying to learn myself, for holidays etc. I'm really good at reading and listening but I do struggle to actually speak!

Thanks for replies everyone.

Just to be clear, they're not actually 'listening'/ watching, just using this as a discipline tool.

I just find it sad that what should have been a natural, positive interaction with the teacher

i.e. "I heard you practicing you new language skills. Well done"

was turned into a creepy,

"oh yeah, well done, see - we're always listening"

Any teachers out there that have an opinion?

@3scape

It doesn't encourage children to own their own behaviour. It's a if you get caught mentality. But then I guess that's the point of a lot of religions. So maybe a lot of people are happy to externalise morality like that. Great that your child is doing so well with Welsh. I'm trying to learn myself, for holidays etc. I'm really good at reading and listening but I do struggle to actually speak!

Totally agree. I want my child to have an good internal moral compass based on empathy, and by (like you say) owning her own behaviour.

Ah, she is loving the language and is soaking it up like a sponge. Its so great and I've loved being bilingual all my life.

Sounds like you're doing so well too - Dal ati a da iawn!!

Also, there is a scheme that does zoom calls to practice the speaking element called 'Siarad':
dysgucymraeg.cymru/dysgu/siarad/

Pob lwc!

I guess they think of it as an extension to elf on the shelf. I'd speak to the governors

There's a Secondary School near us with CCTV where the headteachers actively sits and watches through footage to find out any pupils breaking rules. A rule break can be as minor as taking a phone out of a bag to check the time.

He proudly told us all this at the school open evening.

We didn't put that school down as one of our choices.

@Lindy2

There's a Secondary School near us with CCTV where the headteachers actively sits and watches through footage to find out any pupils breaking rules. A rule break can be as minor as taking a phone out of a bag to check the time.

He proudly told us all this at the school open evening.

We didn't put that school down as one of our choices.

How do they think that's ok????

Will it psychologically damage them? I'm kind of horrified by it because of being in a time of not having that background until recently, but it looks as if that's a reaction that marks me out as old. I find it weird that some nursery parents seem to expect a stream of online photos through the day so they can see what's going on while their child is still in the session (those I've seen are often quite posed - drop everything, look happy, and get into position, where do you have the time?) And have seen 12-14 year olds put on some kind of portal or facetime session just in the background of doing something like colouring or something, so their friends are linked up and can see the, but they are not necessarily having a conversation. So, I think normalising this kind of thing is already almost a done deal.

My concern would be the message that the children received by being told that they are constantly watched listened too. Does that mean that when little Jonny is nasty to another student and doesn’t get into trouble, that the headteacher thinks it’s okay? That when another child calls someone names, that’s okay too?
We have to be careful when we make a actual person all seeing and knowing. It makes them a very powerful person in the eyes of the child, which can be abused

@Crazydoglady1980

My concern would be the message that the children received by being told that they are constantly watched listened too. Does that mean that when little Jonny is nasty to another student and doesn’t get into trouble, that the headteacher thinks it’s okay? That when another child calls someone names, that’s okay too? We have to be careful when we make a actual person all seeing and knowing. It makes them a very powerful person in the eyes of the child, which can be abused

Yup, agree with every word.

Well, I grew up being told Jesus and Satan were always watching me and that if I ever broke any tiny little rule that I could be "beyond redemption."

I turned out fine. twitches

@Chachasha

I agree with you and I also think the Human Rights Commission would be very interested in this.

😂😂😂

Can't say it would bother me.

I tell my children things like this in desperation but they dont care!!!

It's not ok for an abusive partner to do it, why should anyone accept it from an authority figure to a child?

It's unacceptable.

@Ritasueandbobtoo9

I’d be worried about this. Wales is becoming totalitarian though. In lots of ways.

No it bloody isn't!

Children have various rights around their privacy and bring recorded. Were the Human Rights Commission to monitor this situation or even for it to be known that they've shown an interest, I think this situation would alter very quickly - and it should.

I don’t believe that the head is really doing this - the teachers and the unions would be up in arms about it, because it wouldn’t just be the kids that were being watched. Do you know if other teachers are saying the same thing to their classes? Is not i would be complaining to the head, if it’s school wide then to the governors. This is really poor behaviour management and suggests the teacher can’t control the class without an outside influence (and I say that as a teacher who has spent a lot of time working in challenging schools)

I’d knock that one right on the head, end of school day little Johnny by my side “excuse me Mrs Jones, Johnny is extremely worried that there are cameras and microphones around the school listening and watching him all day. I’ve assured him this is definitely not the case as it is simply ridiculous but it may help if you could assure him as well, right now in front of me, thanks!”